As I attempt to orient the windy and often treacherous roads that encapsulate life, here are some of my thoughts on the successes, failures and ultimately the hope and positivity in which I strive for a better world. I also hope that I can use this blog as a platform to elevate the social justice issues that are somewhat forgotten in the modern discourse of staying silent on issues that challenge.

Draw on Hope.

It feels like the past 10-12 months have been dominated by unfair, biased and inhumane policies, decisions and reforms on the global stage. It’s been one blow after another and I myself have found that the continuity of these choices have impacted how I view the world around me. I’ve felt so disheartened at the state of where we are today and the fact that such discriminatory and bigoted discourse has become the norm.

In recent times the never ending cuts to global aid and development have left myself and many others around me questioning the underlying element of humanity itself. Reductions to UN peacekeeping missions, cuts to assistance to alleviate famine conditions in Yemen and Somalia and declining commitments to women’s sexual and reproductive healthcare worldwide have devastated the development sector and continue to put millions of lives at risk.

The dominant discourse of the Western world since before the time of colonialism has been that our version of democratic society makes us the prevailing force of justice on this planet. Our governments tend to criticise corruption, discrimination and a general lack of accountability by their developing counterparts and yet consistently back peddle when needing to then take responsibility for the morally superior role they have attributed themselves. So called ‘first world’ nations have consistently claimed to be forces of good but continue to fail to meet basic commitments to development spending set by universal bodies and committed to by all member nations, themselves included.

Adding to the lack of commitment to poverty reduction is the now normalised method of fear mongering and racism which far right parties worldwide openly brand as ‘necessary’ in the global fight on ‘Islamic terrorism’ or on the US’ part ‘the incursion of Mexican criminals and gangbangers’. As if blaming an entire religion, nationality or ethnicity for the actions of a minute segment of their population is justified, and rationalised even if this incites violence, harassment and hate crime.

It’s easy to continue to feel demoralised in this era where normalcy of hate filled xenophobic discourse has fuelled bigotry and a general sense of apathy. But now is exactly the time to mobilise, to come together and focus on the element that binds us, not that hate or fear, but of love, tolerance and understanding. Let’s take a collective deep breath, acknowledge that something is grievously wrong but then refocus to take up the fight.

I urge you to not be desensitised to the abhorrent and rising levels of hate which are being spurted by many far right political candidates across the world. And no, this isn’t about protection against terror, it’s a repulsive sense of institutionalised racism. Remain clear minded, drawing on hope, diversity and inclusivity in the face of detestable mud-slinging and goat scaping. Continue to stand together to hold our leaders to account in promoting justice. In investing in poverty reduction mechanisms for the world’s most marginalised and for raising the standard on eradicating intolerant, narrow minded and prejudiced dialogue around diversity.

Let’s brand this line of messaging for what it is unacceptable; and more so, let us all go one step further to stand up against this divisive line, in the hope that we can claw back what is left of our devastated and ravaged sense of humanity. I beg of you, to draw on Hope.